My mouse touchpad is not working: diagnose a laptop touchpad fast

Start with the touchpad hotkey and Windows touchpad settings, since a disabled or locked touchpad is the most common cause. If the pointer still fails, test in Safe Mode and reinstall the correct driver for your exact model. If the touchpad also fails in BIOS or Safe Mode, treat it as a hardware issue and contact the manufacturer.

First, rule out a disabled or locked touchpad

Before assuming the hardware has failed, confirm the touchpad is actually switched on. Many laptops have a function-key shortcut that toggles the touchpad, and it is easy to press by accident. On ASUS notebooks the touchpad hotkey is usually on F6 or F9, but the exact key and whether you also need the Fn key varies by model, so check your own user manual rather than guessing. After pressing it, look for an on-screen notification that the touchpad is enabled.

If the function key itself does nothing, the vendor's control interface driver may be missing or broken. ASUS, for example, points to reinstalling its System Control Interface driver when hotkeys stop responding. That is a model-specific step: only install drivers from your laptop maker's official support pages for your exact model.

• Press the touchpad hotkey (often F6 or F9 on ASUS, but model-dependent) and watch for an enable notification.
• If the hotkey does nothing, check whether the vendor's control interface driver is installed.
• Do not assume a shortcut works the same across brands or models; confirm in your manual.

Check Windows touchpad settings and the mouse-connected rule

Open Windows Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Touchpad, and confirm the touchpad toggle is On. A frequently missed setting is the option to keep the touchpad on when a mouse is connected. If that is off and a USB or Bluetooth mouse is paired, Windows may disable the touchpad, which looks exactly like a failure.

Also review the gestures and interaction settings. If taps, scrolling or two-finger gestures behave unexpectedly but the pointer moves, the problem is configuration rather than hardware. Microsoft's guidance for Windows 11 also suggests using the Reset option in the Touchpad settings, when available, to restore defaults.

• Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad: confirm the touchpad is On.
• Enable "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" if you use an external mouse.
• Use Reset in Touchpad settings if gestures or taps misbehave.
• Unplug USB mice, receivers and hubs, then test the built-in touchpad alone.

Vendor lock settings that mimic a dead touchpad

Some laptops have a second layer of control in the manufacturer's own utility. On ASUS machines, the MyASUS app has a Device Settings page with an Input Device Settings section where the touchpad can be set to Lock or Unlock. A locked touchpad will not respond at all. Models with a touchpad number pad may also have a separate NumberPad Lock, which affects only the numeric overlay, not the keyboard number pad.

Not every model exposes these pages. If MyASUS does not show Device Settings, your device likely does not support that feature, and you should move on rather than hunting for a setting that is not there.

• ASUS: open MyASUS > Device Settings > Input Device Settings and set Touchpad to Unlock.
• ASUS NumberPad models: check NumberPad Lock separately if only the numeric overlay fails.
• If the settings page is absent, the feature is not supported on your model.

Separate pointer failure from click and gesture failure

The symptom matters for diagnosis. Ask whether the pointer does not move at all, or whether movement works but clicking, tapping or scrolling does not. A pointer that never moves points toward a disabled device, a driver problem or a hardware fault. Working movement with broken clicks can be a settings or gesture issue, or a physical problem with the click mechanism.

Also check for simple physical causes: debris on or around the touchpad, a swollen battery pushing the surface, or a case or skin pressing on it. Clean the surface gently and remove any cover that overlaps the touchpad edges.

• Pointer frozen entirely: suspect disabled device, driver or hardware.
• Pointer moves but taps or clicks fail: check gesture settings and physical click mechanism.
• Look for dirt, debris or a case pressing on the touchpad.

Test in Safe Mode and with a USB mouse

A USB mouse is a useful diagnostic tool, not just a workaround. If a known-good USB mouse works in different ports, the laptop's USB and pointer stack are broadly fine, which narrows the fault to the touchpad itself or its driver. If no pointing device works at all, the problem is more likely system-level.

Safe Mode helps separate third-party software from Windows itself. In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, or hold Shift while choosing Restart at the sign-in screen. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart and choose Safe Mode. If the touchpad works in Safe Mode, a recently installed program or driver is a likely culprit.

• Test a known-good USB mouse in more than one port.
• Boot into Safe Mode and test the touchpad there.
• Works in Safe Mode: suspect a third-party driver or app.
• Fails in Safe Mode too: hardware or firmware becomes more likely.

Drivers, BIOS and firmware: use only official sources

If the touchpad fails only after Windows starts but works in the BIOS or UEFI screen, the hardware is probably fine and the operating system side needs attention. ASUS describes exactly this pattern and recommends updating the BIOS, Windows and drivers, then installing the necessary chipset drivers from its support site. That is a strong signal to update rather than replace.

Install drivers only from your laptop manufacturer's official support pages, matched to your exact model and Windows version. Avoid third-party driver download sites and registry tweaks. If a driver update is involved on a work-managed laptop, check with IT before changing anything, since device policies may control driver installation.

• Works in BIOS but not Windows: update BIOS, Windows and official drivers.
• Download only from the manufacturer's support site for your exact model.
• On a managed device, ask IT before installing or rolling back drivers.
• Back up important files before firmware or BIOS changes.

When it is likely hardware, and when not to buy

If the touchpad does not respond even in the BIOS or UEFI screen, ASUS states it may be a hardware issue and recommends an authorized service center for diagnosis. That is the clearest evidence-based signal to stop software troubleshooting. A touchpad that fails in Safe Mode, fails in BIOS and shows no response to the hotkey or lock settings fits the same pattern.

Do not buy a replacement laptop or a new touchpad module on the strength of a failed settings check alone. First confirm the hotkey, Windows toggle, vendor lock setting, Safe Mode result and BIOS result. If an external mouse works reliably, you can keep using the existing laptop with that mouse while you arrange repair, which is often the cheaper path. If the machine is under warranty, contact the manufacturer before opening it, since self-repair can affect coverage.

If the laptop is managed by an employer or school, involve IT support before hardware work or data-affecting steps. Keep a backup of important files before any service.

• Likely hardware: no response in BIOS, Safe Mode and after official driver updates.
• Keep the laptop and use a USB mouse temporarily if that works reliably.
• Check warranty terms before opening the chassis or buying parts.
• Involve IT support for managed devices and back up files before service.

More home-office fixes and buying guides